The 1950s are known for fast cars, hip music, poodle skirts and the heyday of the small-town diner--groovy little joints where you could find hot apple pie, tunes on the jukebox and a checkerboard floor for dancing. Since retro designs bring a hint of nostalgia to the table, decorating your kitchen in a diner theme is sure to make it a popular gathering place for your family.
Instructions
1. Select a color scheme for your space. Red, turquoise and pink are popular retro choices, and black and white work as accents for any of those choices.
2. Tape off the trim, window sills and door frames to prevent paint drips and add tarps to protect your countertops, cabinets and floors. Paint the walls in the main color you chose. Remove the tape by scoring it with a utility knife before pulling it off.
3. Remove the hardware on the cabinets and drawers with a screwdriver. Spray paint the hardware to give it the appearance of chrome and allow the pieces to dry.
4. Lightly sand the cabinets to remove any protective finish and paint them either black or white, depending on your color preference. When the cabinets are dry, reattach the painted hardware for a fitting, retro look.
5. Clean the floor and prepare it according the the instructions on the box of the peel-and-stick tile. Some products may require the application of a degreaser to the old floor before you begin installing the new floor. Use a tape measure to measure each wall to find its center. When you find the center of a wall, run a chalk line along the floor to mark its location. Find the center of an opposite wall and create another chalk line. The place where the lines cross is the center of the room.
6. Begin laying tile at the center intersection of the room. Peel the backing off the tile and press each one firmly to the floor, alternating black and white tiles in a checkerboard pattern. To cut tiles to fit around doors or in smaller spaces, score them with a utility knife, using a straight edge as a guide. You can then snap the tile along the score.
7. Add retro accessories and furniture to the room. You can find authentic, diner-style furniture at stores or vintage shops with chrome accents and colorful vinyl upholstery. Neon clocks or signs, metal advertisements or bright, small appliances can finish off the look and add function to the space.
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